Engine frame



May 9, 1939- w. T. HANNA ENGINE FRAME Filed June 29, 1935 ISI Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a reciprocating steam engine construction and more particularly to a Steam engine for use in connection with a coal stoker.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a steam engine construction which is simple and sturdy in construction and thoroughly reliable and eicient in operation. Another object is to provide a construction of the above nature in which various of the operating parts are readily accessible for replacement or reconditioning and in which various of the parts may be readily assembled and may be adjusted and inspected without extensive disassembly of the entire assemblage. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafte The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplied in the structure -to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in Which is shown one of various embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of an engine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the engine with the side cover plate removed to expose certain of the operating parts;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the valve slide guide;

Figure 5 is a top View of the valve slide guide; and

Figure 6 is an end View of the valve slide guide.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawlng.

Referring first to Figure 2, the engine generally indicated at i3 comprises a frame section il which rigidly supports a cylinder and valve block l2, the cylinder and valve block being secured to the frame in any suitable manner as by bolts or the like. Cylinder block l 2 is provided with working cylinders I5 (shown in dotted line) and with slide valve chambers i6 (also shown in dotted line). Cylinder block l2 has formed therein suitable steam passages of any desirable form and arrangement which connect an intake i3 and an exhaust M with the working cylinders t5 and slide valve chambers IS. I preferably provide also a controlling valve chamber Il (shown in dotted line in Figure 2) which controls the flow of (Cl. 308-3) steam to the slide valve chambers I6 and forms the working cylinders l5 as will be more fully described hereinafter.

As is more clearly shown in Figure 1, disposed within working cylinders l5 are operating pistons 5 I8 (shown in dotted line) to Which are connected piston rods i9 connected to suitable crossheads 20 by means of Wrist pins 2l. Crossheads 20 are suitably supported and guided within the crank Case chamber of engine section Il and have conf 10 nected thereto by way of wrist pins 2 l, connecting rods 22 which connect the cross heads with the crank shaft 23. Crank shaft 23 is preferably journaled in a pair of bearing plates 24 secured to the sides of section l l, these bearing plates being secured to the section in any suitable manner as by bolts or the like. Preferably on one end of crank shaft 23 there is provided a suitable coupling connection 25 through which the power developed by the engine may mechanism of the stoker (not shown). l

Suitable pistons 2t (shown in dotted lines) are slidably disposed within slide valve chambers I6, and these pistons preferably take the form of slide valves which control the fiow of steam to 25 and from operating cylinders l5. To each of valve pistons 2B is secured a valve stem 2'! which extends through the wall of cylinder block l2 and into frame section l I wherein it is connected to a slide member 28. Preferably the connection between slide member 28 and valve stem 21 is adjustable by threading the stem into or out of the member 28 and locking it in position by nut 21a. A stud 30 extends substantially at right angles from slide member 28 and pivotally on its free end 35 is a link 29- the other end of which is eccentrically mounted on a suitable bearing portion 23a of crank shaft 23. Thus rotation of crank shaft 23 reciprocates link 29 which in turn causes the reciprocation of slide member 28 to operate valve 40 piston 26 and thus control the admission of steam to the Working cylinders.

I have found, in order to avoid undue wear and ineflicient operation of the valve pistons, that it is desirable to confine the valve pistons as closely as possible within their line of travel and also in proper alignment with the cylinder block. Thus I have provided a valve slide guide generally indica-ted at 3l (Figure l) for each of the slide members 28. As is more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, guide 3l is bolted to frame section Il as by bolts 32 which extend through flange portions Sla (Figure 3) resting against the side wall of the frame section. Slide 3l also includes top and bottom walls 3lb and 3|c (Figures 4 and 6) 55 be transmitted tothe operating 20 and an inner wall 3|d all of which are located within the crank case portion of frame section I I and which form a channel or supportl in which slide member 28 can reciprocate (see Figure 3).

As is more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5, a recessed portion 3|e is formed in wall 3|d of guide 3| and this recess receives stud 30 (Figure 1) when slide member 28 and valve piston 26 are in one external position. As is better shown in Figure 2, frame section is provided with an opening la through which guide 3| extends and which is closed by a side plate 33 (Figures l and 3) bolted to the side wall of frame section as by bolts 34.

Referring again to Figure 3, side plate 33 includes a portion 33a which, when the side plate is bolted in position, engages the exposed side of slide member 28 and accordingly completes the formation of the channel or support in which the guide member slides. Thus guide member 28 is always maintained in proper alignment and is retained in reciprocating relation with respect to guide 3| and side plate 33 without any possibility of substantial deviation therefrom. Accordingly valve piston 26 (Figure 1) is always maintained 'in correct alignment in the cylinder block.

Preferably frame portion is provided with a removable lid or cover plate 35 (Figure 2) which is secured to the frame section by suitable bolts vor the like (not shown) and which may be readily removed to permit easy access to the interior of the crank case for purposes of assembling or disassembling the connecting rods to the crank shaft or for inspecting and servicing them.

Preferably frame section I! is so formed as to provide recessed portions lbthrough which valve stems 21 extend. Preferably the valve stems are provided with any suitable glands or stuing boxes 36 and as the valve stems extend through portions of the same structure, namely, frame section I, stuiiing boxes 3S are accordingly mounted therein. This feature of construction is particularly advantageous in that it not only renders assembly of the various parts quite easy but also it precludes the possibility of binding the valve stems because of misalignment thereof with the stufling boxes.

As pointed out above, I have provided controlling cylinder in cylinder block |2 and in cylinder I1 there is reciprocally disposed a valve pi.,- ton 31 having secured thereto a stem or controlling rod 38 which extends through a wall of the cylinder block and a suitable packing gland 39. Valve stem 38 may be operatively connected to any desired form of operating device to control the flow of Steam to the valve cylinders I6 and operating cylinders l5.

With the parts assembled as shown in Figure 2 the engine may be operated and the parts adjusted while under observation since the engine is operable in this condition without the cover plate 35 covering the opening la. This feature is highly advantageous. It enables the mechanism to be assembled quickly and conveniently and also for it to be adjusted initially and later on as the parts may wear while the engine is in operation.

Accordingly I have provided a steam engine for use in operating a mechanical coal Stoker which is thoroughly practical and efficient in operation and which achieves the objects hereinabove set forth in addition to many others in a highly practical manner.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A guide for supporting the cross head of a valve mounted for reciprocation in a steam engine comprising, in combination, a flanged member having its flanges secured to the engine frame and having its other portions extending therein through an opening formed in a wall thereof, said portions slidably supporting the valve cross head, and a part secured to said frame wall closing said opening and having a bearing surface engaging a portion of the valve cross head.

2. A guide for supporting the cross head of a valve mounted for reciprocation in a steam engine comprising, in combination, a flanged U- Shaped member extending into the engine frame, said U-shaped member being positioned to slidably receive between its legs the valve cross head, means securing the iianges of said member to the engine frame, and means secured to said engine frame covering the open side of said member and having a bearing portion slidably engaging the valve cross head.

3. A guide for supporting the cross head of a valve mounted for reciprocation in a steam engine comprising, in combination, a member having anges and bearing portions, said flanges being secured to the engine frame and said bearing portions extending through an opening formed in the wall of the engine frame to lie therewithin, said bearing portions embracing and slidably supporting the valve cross head, and a plate secured to said frame wall over said member and closing the opening in said frame wall.

4. A guide for supporting the cross head of a valve mounted for reciprocation in a steam engine comprising, in combination, a bearing member having portions secured to the frame member of the engine and bearing portions extending through an opening formed in the wall of said frame member to lie therewithin, at least one of said bearing portions facing outwardly of said opening, said bearing portions slidably supporting the valve cross head, and a plate secured to said frame member wall over said bearing member, said bearing members being secured to said frame member independently of each other.

WILLIAM THOMPSON HANNA. 

